Airline Industry

October 13, 1985|By Deanne Brandon

BIG DEALS. Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Dole tentatively approved the purchase of Pan American World Airways' Pacific Division by United Airlines. United, the nation's largest airline, agreed in April to pay $750 million for Pan Am's sprawling operations in the Pacific. . . . People Express would become the nation's 5th-largest commercial carrier if its proposed acquisition of Frontier for $300 million goes through. Four Frontier unions supported People's bid of $24 a share, which topped an offer from Frank Lorenzo of Texas Air, who has a reputation for union-busting. Non-union People plans to operate Frontier separately.